KLINGENTHAL, Germany — Defending World Cup champion Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria refused to compete at the opening individual ski jumping event of the season Sunday in protest against a decision to go ahead with the competition in windy conditions.

Schlierenzauer and Anders Bardal of Norway left the tower after the start of the competition had been delayed by two hours and then interrupted several times.

The jury decided to stop the competition after one heat, leaving Poland's Krzysztof Biegun as the winner with a jump of 142.5 meters and 135.8 points.